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Mozena sees Bangladesh's bright future

Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh can emerge as a major player in Asian economy by harnessing its potentials in four sectors -apparels, leather, pharmaceuticals and information technology, outgoing US Ambassador Dan W Mozena believes.
"It is not any mythical idea but a reality of near future that Bangladesh is going to emerge as the next Asian economic tiger," said an emotional Mozena at his farewell press conference at the American Embassy Employees’ Association Club in the capital yesterday.
Mozena said Bangladesh has the world's second largest garment, 150-factory strong tannery and leather, growing generic pharmaceuticals and booming IT industries to thrive on.
The RMC sector can become the world's "best and biggest" with a much-needed transformation to ensure workers' safety, rights and wellbeing, he said.
Bangladesh is about to emerge as a major pharmaceuticals exporting country in the world and its pharmaceuticals and leather products are going to flood the US market in two to five years, Mozena went on.
An amazing development is waiting to happen in the country's IT sector as it is able to provide software at a 60 percent lesser cost than firms in India's Bangalore, he said.
Bangladesh, being geographically located right in the middle of what US President Obama calls the Indo-Pacific economic corridor connecting both South and East Asia regions, has immense economic possibilities, he said.
At the press conference, the outgoing ambassador had to face political questions as well.
A journalist inquired what Mozena had to say regarding a "common public perception" that the US wanted the BNP to come to power through the last parliamentary polls and that’s why it so fervently opposed the lanuary 5 elections.
"I don't know what to say about that ... That's |for] the people of Bangladesh to sort out," he replied, adding that USA's stance on the election remained unchanged.
He hailed Bangladesh's achievement in food security and reduction of deaths during childbirth and child mortality, as part of meeting the millennium development goals.
However, Bangladesh needs to bring about a revolutionary improvement in the education sector by bringing in the best and the brightest teachers with the best salaries, and providing digital facilities like multimedia tools and virtual libraries for academic activities.
Assessing his three years' service in Bangladesh, Mozena said, "The US-Bangladesh bilateral relation at present is broader, deeper and stronger than
ever before... I am proud of the success of latest US military cooperation with Bangladesh Navy and Coastguard."
"It is a melancholic moment for me to part with beautiful Bangladesh after having served a 37-month tenure in a country rich with hardworking, resilient, warmhearted and open-minded people.
"I travelled throughout all 64 districts of Bangladesh during my tenure, walked through the villages and talked to farmers and villagers for a people-to-people relation," Mozena said.
Describing the natural beauty of Bangladesh as "hundreds of shades of greenery", the retiring US envoy added, 'Now I go back to America with a great treasure of people’s life stories.'
Talking about his post-retirement plans, he said, "I would like to do something ... that would keep me linked with Bangladesh."
Asked whether he would pay a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mozena said, "I have no idea".
Mozena took the office of the US Ambassador to Bangladesh on November 24, 2011. He leaves Bangladesh along with his wife today. His successor Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat is expected to take over soon.